The air was a bit chilly as we started the day running into the Fire Lake Elementary School in Eagle View, a town near Anchorage. Erin Jones and Kim Meck, teachers at the school, helped Palyati, our local coordinator, to set up a nice program with about 250 students in the large gym.

As usual it took a few minutes of introductions and guessing games to get the children involved in the program. Their enthusiasm eventually shone through as they sang the song with us and chanted the motto, ‘Harmony Begins with Me.’

The real excitement came when the teachers took the Torch and ran around the auditorium as the children offered their support with shouts and screams.

We are so grateful for the participation of everyone there as they gave us enough energy to run to the next school about 12 miles away.

We ran to Muldoon Elementary in Anchorage, stopping for some food on the way. The run was pleasant as we went almost the whole way on a bike and running trail paralleling the highway into town.

The honks and waves from the passersby made for an exciting run as we relayed the torch between three runners.

At Muldoon Elementary there were 450 children and with their teachers waiting for us in the auditorium. They seemed a little stunned as we ran in with a flaming torch and circled the crowd.

It usually takes a few minutes of our presentation to warm up the crowd, but when they start to understand what we are doing and why, and as we get them more personally involved, their enthusiasm and excitement start to blossom forth.

When we did the ‘Harmony Wave’ with this particular group, chanting our motto, “Harmony Begins with Me”, word by word in a sequence with the crowd as we raised our hands overhead, they almost shook the roof down.

The children had made country flags from 20 countries representing the ethnic diversity of the school children as well as some of the countries of our runners. Some of the children made creative bookmarks which were laminated for us as well. Ruth Dene, the Principal, helped us organize the children along with the other teachers to run with the Torch outdoors around the huge playground.

At the signal of “all aboard” the Harmony Train took off with one of teachers leading the pack with the Torch. It was difficult to leave the playground with the teachers and children as we ended the program taking photos and saying our goodbyes.

We ended the day at the Bombay Deluxe Restaurant for an incredible Indian meal. Before leaving, full and satisfied, we met Sunil Sethi, the owner of this wonderful restaurant complete with authentic Tandoor ovens. He was so kind to offer complementary meals to us and we are very grateful to him for his contribution to the World Harmony Run.

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